The bottom line is clear: Our vital interests in Afghanistan are limited and military victory is not the key to achieving them. On the contrary, waging a lengthy counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan may well do more to aid Taliban recruiting than to dismantle the group, help spread conflict further into Pakistan, unify radical groups that might otherwise be quarreling amongst themselves, threaten the long-term health of the U.S. economy, and prevent the U.S. government from turning its full attention to other pressing problems. -- Afghanistan Study Group

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Reported security incidents
#1: A drone strike killed three anti-government gunmen, including a Pakistani, and wounded two others in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.

#2: Two Afghan anti- government militants were killed as their explosive device exploded prematurely in the country's eastern Laghman province on Thursday, said a statement released by the provincial government.

#3: In the latest incident, two Afghan soldiers were killed and two others injured as a bomb blast targeted a military vehicle in Qarghayi district, Laghman province on Thursday morning, spokesman for provincial government Sarhadi Zawak said.

#4: Two armed insurgents were killed and five others detained in a clash with Afghan security forces in Baghlan province. The clash occurred in Dahan-e-Ghoori district of that province while armed insurgents attacked on the base of security forces.

#5: A local police commander with two other policemen were martyred in explosion of a mine in Logar province yesterday. The incident occurred in Hesarak region, Pul-e-Alam capital of that province, while a policeman wanted to defuse a mine.